BEGGS 'KILLED OTHERS'

DOCUMENTARY COVERS LIMBS IN LOCH HORROR

- BY NORMAN SILVESTER

A DETECTIVE who helped bring "Limbs in the Loch" killer William Beggs to justice believes he claimed other victims who have not yet been identified.

Stuart Ferguson was deputy senior investigation officer probing the murder of 18-year-old supermarket worker Barry Wallace in December 1999, for which Beggs was later arrested and sentenced to life in prison.

In a new documentary series, he reveals details of blood found in Beggs's Kilmarnock flat which was not Barry's and which he fears belongs to other young men.

Stuart said: "I am a firm believer there are other victims.

"The initial search of the house took several days. In some carpets, underlay, then floorboards we found traces of blood. Human blood, male human blood, which was not identified and still has not been identified.

"Who else has been in that property and has left blood to that extent?"

Forensic psychologist Joni Johnston tells the programme some victims who may have been raped or sexually assaulted - did not report the attacks because they were embarrassed about what had happened or were fearful of Beggs.

The series, titled Body in the Water, looks at 10 murders in the UK and US where the victims' bodies were dumped in water in a bid to cover up the crime and evade justice.

The first episode broadcast last night describes how mistakes by Beggs and some good luck involving a police diving team led to his downfall.

Jeff Adams, who led the diving team, described how Barry's body parts were found the day after Beggs had dumped them off the pier in Rowardennan at Loch Lomond.

By chance, he had arranged a diving session for his men at that exact location.

One of his team saw two black bin bags on the surface and found an arm then part of leg.